Bioethics is the discipline that examines ethical aspects connected to the Life Sciences. Among its tasks are the analyses of conflicts and arguments and the development of well-founded moral positions as well as epistemological examinations and the discussion of basic philosophical questions raised by scientific research. Thus, it has a constructive function for the future development of the investigated fields. In the context of ageing research, there are many different questions that need to be addressed: what is a good life? What constitutes “successful ageing”? Is ageing an integral and important part of what it means to be human? Or can it be seen as a (treatable) disease? How does the turn towards “Preventive Medicine” shift responsibilities through the individualization of risks? Which issues of justice are being raised by healthy-ageing concepts? And what role could age discrimination play in the future? This talk provides an overview over the most prominent issues that are currently being debated in connection with ageing research. It stresses the need to differentiate between the diverse goals and methods of biogerontology on the one hand, and the importance of interdisciplinary research on the other hand, in order to enable the shaping of the field in a way that best balances risks and opportunities. Additionally, insights into the work of ethics committees (for example the German Ethics Council) and their decision-making processes will be provided in a separate, but related talk (in German).

The presentation forms part of the Biologiekolloquium and of the seminar “Molecular and genetic mechanisms of cellular ageing and age-related diseases” (Vertiefungsmodul Neurogenetik). Interested collegues from all faculties are highly welcome.